How to Choose the Right Domain Name: 10 Tips for Small Businesses

Choosing a domain name is like choosing a name for your business. It requires a lot of time and careful planning to find the right one. Like your company name, your domain name is your identity online – it represents your brand and it’ll be how customers recognize you on the web.

With that being said, you want to make sure that your domain name is a perfect fit for your company and that it clearly tells customers what to expect on your site. So let’s get started…

How to choose the right domain name

1. Make it easy to type

A domain name that’s easy to type is critical to success. Avoid using any slang, abbreviations or misspellings since it will be much harder for customers to find your website.

2. Keep it short and simple

Try to aim for one to two word domain names. Avoid creating long and complex domain names because there’s a good chance that customers will mistype or misspell your domain name.

3. Make it unique

Make sure that your domain name is memorable so try to match your company name with your business name. You want to be the first business that comes to mind whenever people think about the product or service you offer.

4. Avoid hyphens and numbers

Hyphens and numbers make domain names more complex and difficult to type. It also makes it much harder to share verbally. If the domain you found has a hyphen or number, choose a different name.

5. Include a keyword

Gone are the days where you choose a domain name that’s full of keywords. Instead, incorporate your keyword with your domain name. This helps set expectations of what customers can expect on your site and it also immediately tells customers what you do.

Find a keyword that customers are actively looking for. For example, if your run a business consulting company called Integrity, your keyword might be IntegrityConsulting.com or IntegrityConsultants.com.

6. Make it memorable

Word of mouth is still an important way of sharing websites so you want to make sure that people can easily recall and pronounce your domain name. Test out your ideas by sharing with family and friends to help choose the right domain for your website.

7. Conduct proper research

An unfortunate mistake that you want to avoid is infringing on a trademark or copyright. It’s a mistake that happens all too often and it can cost your business and your domain name. Before you settle for a domain name, make sure that you’re not infringing on an existing copyright or trademark.

8. Choose the right domain extension

Hundreds of new generic Top Level Domains are now available, including .design, .construction, .guru, .photography and more, so you don’t need to stick to a .COM when choosing the domain for your business. In fact, Google treats the new extensions exactly like any other domain.

With the new domains, this is the advantage that you receive. Instead of combining your business name with that particular keyword, the new extensions can do that for you. This lets you create a domain name that’s shorter, simpler and more relevant.

9. Protect and develop your brand

Keep your brand safe by registering any typos and misspellings of your domain name. You don’t want your competitors to register your domain name under a different extension and redirect any traffic back to their site.

Tip: Once you have multiple domains, put them to use by redirecting them back to your main website or social media profiles.

10. Register your domain quickly

Everyday, thousands of domain names are being registered so if you have an idea, act fast and get it. Luckily, they’re inexpensive to register so you can grab one and sit on it until you’re ready to launch your website.

When you choose the right domain name, you not only build your brand, but also investing in the future. Finding the right domain name helps build your business’ credibility online and it provides potential customers with an online brochure that’s available 24/7. While it might be challenging trying out different combinations of domain names, taking the time and effort to choose the right domain is a good investment for any business.